City of Ember

Just in time for the Super Bowl, “The Express” charges onto the field, inspiration under its arm, to remind us about Ernie Davis, the Syracuse University running back who became the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy.

Influenced by pro football Hall-of-Famer Jim Brown, his predecessor at Syracuse and on the Cleveland Browns, Davis (Rob Brown) entered the predominantly white college on the lip of the civil rights movement and scored with his talent and determination — it sounds hokey but it’s true — against bigoted teams and players.

His clashes and evolving friendship with Syracuse coach Ben Schwartzwalder (Dennis Quaid) proved vital for both of them.
“The Express,” Davis’ nickname, offers another take on themes delivered in sports films such as “Remember the Titans,” which is more emotionally involving, and b-ball’s “Glory Road,” which isn’t.

The biopic works by showing Davis’ growth as a socially conscious man as well as a player and by minimizing sentimentality while creating a strong sense of place and time. The game sequences are exciting and realistic (see the extra on shooting them) and Gary Fleder’s taut direction keeps scenes moving quickly. Also on Blu-ray.Extras: Short on the real Davis, shooting the games, Davis’ legacy; making-of piece; deleted scenes; filmmaker’s commentary.‘Max’ is a pain“Max Payne” is instantly forgettable murk based on a popular video game that must have been created by unsettling people with bleak lives.

The film’s plastered with surreal, spooky images and slabs of unpleasantness in a noirish New York City filled with angry people you’d never invite over for dinner.Mark Wahlberg, in his nothing-will-ever-make-me-smile-again mode, plays Max, a maverick DEA agent, out to avenge the murders of his wife and child as, at the same time, he investigates a series of murders. Also on Blu-ray.Extras: Unrated extended cut of film; digital copy; animated graphic novel with insights into the killing of Payne’s family and his quest from vengeance; making-of doc.Slick ‘City’
“The Goonies” meets “Dark City” in “City of Ember,” a captivating futuristic saga aimed at tweens but likely to appeal to older fans of fantasy as well.

On a post-apocalyptic Earth, the remaining population lives in a dying underground city of flickering lights and little food, prompting two industrious teens to scurry to find the secret behind their city and a way out before darkness covers everything.

Based on a young adult novel, the film’s a satisfyingly offbeat and exciting diversion with plenty of movement, plucky heroes, strong visuals and a decent script. Saoirse Ronan (“Atonement”), Tim Robbins and Bill Murray star. Extras: None.Seeing ‘Saw’
I sacrificed 1 hour, 32 minutes of my life to see “Saw V” and I still don’t get the appeal of series.

It’s built around sadism, gore, and Rube Goldberg-like contraptions that usually end with a severed head or limb.

People are kidnapped, tortured and sentenced to die unless they perform ghastly acts that usually result in the demise of another captive and, or, the loss of a limb.

“Saw V” comes to you littered with body parts and drenched in blood.
The film resurrects Jigsaw (Tobin Bell), the sadistic executioner seen in flashback as his protégé, a homicide cop (Costas Mandylor) under suspicion by a colleague, continues the torture “games” with five tainted captives connected by an evil deed.

Grim, gruesome, pointless. On Blu-ray, too.Extras: Commentaries; shorts on the torture traps; piece on editing a trap.Also on DVD“Amusement”: In an anthology of related vignettes, a killer stalks three women friends because of something nasty that happened in their childhood.“President Barack Obama: The Man and His Journey”: The expected deluge begins with this documentary about the 44th president’s run for office and his election in the context of the country’s history; Blair Underwood narrates.“Boogeyman 3”: The Boogeyman kills coeds; can’t he ever hunt greedy corporate execs?“Charlie & Me”: When a 12-year-old’s grandfather/best friend gets a terminal diagnosis, the two fill his remaining days teaching each other how to live life to the fullest; with Tom Bosley and Jordy Benattar.“Center Stage: Turn It Up”: Hockey player-turned-dancer helps street dancer achieve dream of training at renowned ballet academy; with Rachele Brooke Smith.“The Deal”:William H. Macy and Meg Ryan star in a screwball romantic comedy about a fading producer who restarts his career with a series of studio deals involving his nephew’s slick script; also on Blu-ray.“Election” on Blu-ray: Matthew Broderick’s stiff schoolteacher clashes with Reese Witherspoon’s go-getter candidate for student body prez in Alexander Payne’s sharp dark comedy.“The End of America”: Doc about the threat to democracy created by the Bush administration.“Henry Poole is Here”: When a neighbor sees a holy image in a stain on the wall of his tiny house, it upsets a self-pitying man’s plans to sulk in peace in this fable about love; with Luke Wilson; also on Blu-ray.“Igor”: Animated shenanigans in a city of mad scientists and wicked gadgets; also on Blu-ray.“National Lampoon’s Stoned Age”: Inventive cave man tries to influence tribe, win girl, defeat enemy; with Ali Larter.“Repo! The Genetic Opera”: In the near future, an epidemic of organ failures sparks a biotech company to sell organs, then hunt recipients if they can’t pay; rock opera with Alexa Vega, Sarah Brightman, Paris Hilton, Anthony Head; also on Blu-ray.“Taxi Blues”: Jewish saxophone player becomes friends with Russian cabbie he stiffed; in Russian with subtitles.“Tribute: Stanley Tookie Williams”: Docu about the Crips co-founder, Nobel Prize nominee and children’s book author executed at San Quentin in 2005.TV on DVD

“The Adventures of Walker & Ping Ping”

“Children of the Stones” (engrossing 1970s British sci-fi series about a creepy English village where everyone’s happy)